Support columns

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION RELATES TO IMPROVEMENTS IN SUPPORT COLUMNS OF THE KIND WHICH CAN STAND COMPRESSION BUT WHICH WILL YIELD TO LATERAL FORCES. FOUR EMBODIMENTS IN THE FORM OF HINGE STOPS ARE ILLUSTRATED IN THE DRAWINGS AND DESCRIBED IN THE SPECIFICATION. IN TWO OF THOSE EMBODIMENTS, THE COLUMN IS FORMED BY A COILED SPRING WHICH EXTENDS TO END MEMBES MOUNTED ON RESPECTIVE ONES OF A PAIR OF HINGED STRUCTURES. THE OTHER TWO EMBODIMENTS ARE ALSO SHOWN EXTENDING BETWEEN END MEMBERS EACH FIXED TO A RESPECTIVE ONE OF A PAIR OF HINGE MEMBES BUT THE STOP IS FORMED BY AN ELONGATE MEMBER WHICH IS SERVED MORE THAN HALF BUT LESS THAN ALL THE WAY THROUGH AT SPACED PLANES ALONG ITS LENGTH SO THAT ONE SIDE OF THE MEMBER CAN WITHSTAND BOTH COMPRESSION AND TENSION AND THE OTHER SIDE CAN WITHSTAND COMPRESSION ONLY.

' March 1 G. J. KNUDSON 3,570,043

SUPPORT COLUMNS Filed Jan. 27, 1969 INVENTOR. 6/4 r/vee KNUDSON ATI'OQNEYS BY I United States Patent US. Cl. 16-85 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to improvements in support columns of the kind which can stand compression but which will yield to lateral forces. Four embodiments in the form of hinge stops are illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification. In two of those embodiments, the column is formed by a coiled spring which extends to end members mounted on respective ones of a pair of hinged structures. The other two embodiments are also shown extending between end members each fixed to a respective one of a pair of hinge members but the stop is formed by an elongate member which is severed more than half but less than all the way through at spaced planes along its length so that one side of the member can withstand both compression and tension and the other side can withstand compression only.

This invention relates to improvements in columnar supports and particularly to supports which act as columns when placed in compression but which yield readily to laterally applied pressure in the absence of substantial compressive force.

One example of an application for such a columnar support lies in hinge locks whose purpose is to prop hinged structures apart whereby to preclude movement of one hinge structure relative to the other beyond a selected degree. Hinge locks are used to prop covers open, to keep the folding legs of tables from collapsing, and in a variety of other applications wherein it is necessary to prevent hinge action until it is desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a columnar support which can be produced in easily operable form, which is inexpensive to produce, reliable in its operation, and which is readily rendered ineffective when support is not required.

The invention is not limited to hinge locks, but it is particularly well-suited to this application and an object is to provide an improved hinge lock. In preferred form, hinge locks made according to the invention are biased to locking position or, stated another way, to the condition in which locking is accomplished upon the application of compressive force. The provision of such a lock is another object of the invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hinge lock which is especially adapted for employment in corrosive environments. For an example, it is an object of the invention to provide hinge locks suitable for use in chemical processing applications and aboard sea going vessels.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, which will hereinafter appear, are realized in part by the provision of a support column for holding a pair of structures separated from one another a selected distance, but collapsible in response to lateral force, which comprises a pair of end elements and means for fixing those elements to the structures to be held separated; and by the provision of a plurality of intermediate elements arranged in series one to the next between said end elements; said intermediate elements being movable between a first position in series alignment with one another and with said end members and a second posiice tion out of alignment with one another and said end members in response to forces lateral to the direction of alignment. Also, certain objects and advantages of the invention are realized in part by the provision in combination of a pair of structures mounted for relative pivotal movement about a common pivot axis together with means for selectively limiting the degree of relative pivotal movement of those structures in one direction which includes an elongate member secured at one of its ends to one of said structures and at the other of its ends to the other of said structures, said elongate member being formed of a material, and being provided with a shape to withstand compression in the direction of its length and to bend along its length in at least one plane upon the application thereto of forces in that plane and directed transversely to its length.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a hatch and its hinged hatch cover together with two stops, each embodying the invention, both serving to prop the cover open in selected degree;

'FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the rightmost of the two columnar supports or props shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the prop of FIGS. 1 and 2, together with a fragment of the hatch and hatch cover of FIG. 1, in which the prop is shown in collapsed condition;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of another form of stop embodying the invention, it being shown in collapsed condition attached to a hatch and hatch cover shown fragmented; and

FIG. 5 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in cross-section illustrating a fragment of an alternative form of stop embodying the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a hatch 10 comprising a combing 12 secured to the surface of a deckplate 14. A hatch cover 16 is hinged at 18 and 20 to the rear wall of the combing 12. The hinged cover is propped open by two columnar stops, the rightmost one of which is generally designated by the reference numeral 22 and the leftmost of which is generally designated by the reference numeral 24. The stop 22 extends between a bracket 26 secured to the underface 28 of the cover 16. At its other end, the stop 22 is secured to a plate 30 which is fixed to the inner side of the right side wall 32 of the combing 12. The stop 24 has pivotal connection to a pin 34 which is fixed, by means not shown, to the left side wall of the cover 16. At its lower end, the stop 24 has pivotal connection by a pin 36 to the outer side of side wall 38 of the combing 12.

Both of the stop structures 22 and 24 comprise end sections by which the stops are fixed to the structures which they are to prop apart when under compression. Between its end sections, each of the stops comprises a number of intermediate elements arranged in series. Each is connected to the adjacent sections and the last of these intermediate sections is connected to a respectively associated one of the end sections. In each stop all of the sections are arranged in series and they form a column when they are aligned capable of withstanding substantial compressive force. The several sections that comprise the stop are hinged and will yield to transversely applied pressure so that the column will collapse. In preferred form, the stops are structured to resist collapsing in proportion to the compressive force applied lengthwise of the stop.

The stop 22 is shown in top plan view in FIG. 2 of the drawings. It comprises a spring -40, wound in the form of a helix with turn interference to place the individual coils in pretension whereby the spring assumes a tubular form about a straight axis in the absence of external force. The spring may be bent out of alignment with its ends by laterally applied force because the individual turns, being capable of twisting in torsion, are in effect hinged one to the other.

The spring is held at its ends by threaded plugs. The plug at the upper end, in FIG. 2, is designated by the reference numeral 42 and the plug at the lower end is designated by the reference number 44. Both plugs are threaded so that they can be turned into the ends of the spring 40 and both plugs terminate in a head so that they appear generally like machine bolts screwed into the end of the coiled spring. The head portion of each plug is provided with a through opening which extends transversely of the head such that its axis intersects, or substantially intersects, the central longitudinal axis of the plug. A pivot pin 46 extends through the opening in the head of plug 42 and a pin 48 extends through the opening in the head portion of the plug 44. The plugs are oriented so that the two pivot pins 46 and 48 extend in parallel direction. The pivot pin 46 is pressed in place between the arms 50 and 52 of the U-shaped bracket 26 the base portion 54 of which is fiat and is provided with mounting holes, such for example as the hole 56, by which it may be mounted to one of the structures which the stop is to bear against. Pin 48 extends through the head portion of plug 44 and through an opening near one margin of the fiat circular plate 30. The end of the pin 48 is threaded at for attachment to the other structure which the stop is to bear against. Another screw 62 extends through the mounting plate 30 near the margin at the other side of the plate.

As previously explained, the coiled spring is self-biased toward a straight position in which all of its coils are in alignment. Accordingly, the spring assumes the position it is shown to have in FIG. 1 as soon as the structures to which its ends are connected are separated sufiiciently to enable the spring to straighten out. Thereafter, any attempt to close the cover by pressure tending to rotate it about its hinges is opposed by the spring, the coils of which have formed a column capable of withstanding very substantial forces in compression. However, when it is desired to close the cover, it is necessary only to apply a lateral force to the spring 22 sufficient in magnitude to bend the spring so that some of its coils lie outside of the line connecting the two pivot pins. Thereafter, application of compressive force simply bends the stop end portions of which rotate in bracket 26 and plate 30 so that the bending force stored in the coils tends to be stored uniformly over the coils that are free to bend. Those coils into which the plug is threaded are fixed and with the plugs form the end members referred to above. The position assumed by the collapsed spring is illustrated in FIG. 3 where the cover 16 is shown to be completely closed down upon the combing 12.

The stop 22 always collapses to substantially the same position because the energy stored in the spring when it is collapsed is most nearly uniformly distributed among the several coils and is minimum when the spring is collapsed in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the two pivot pins 46 and 48. It is noted that the transverse force that initiates collapse of the spring need not be perpendicular to the plane in which the spring is ultimately collapsed. An initial sidewise displacement of the spring will permit it to be collapsed and it will ultimately assume a collapsed position in the plane perpendicular to the pivot pins.

It is not necessary that both ends be pivoted to control the plane in which the spring is collasped. It is sufficient if one end only is pivoted. Moreover, there are certain applications in which it is not important that the stop collapse in any predefined plane so it is not necessary in all forms of the invention to pivot the end of the stop on a given axis. An alternative construction is shown in FIG. 5 where the stop member is seen to terminate in a ball and socket joint. This construction is especially advantageous where it is desired to disconnect the stop.

Either the ball or the socket or both are formed of a material, such as the plastic material here shown, which will deform sufficiently to permit removal of the ball from the socket to permit its reinsertion at will. In FIG. 5 both the ball 64 and the socket 66 are molded of a resilient plastic material. The spring 68 is formed of stainless steel in this embodiment.

The stop 24 of FIG. 1 and stop 70 of FIG. 4 are formed of plastic materials which are inert to most chemicals, including salt water. The two stops 24 and 70 are similar except that the two ends of the stop 24 are alike whereas one end of the stop 70 is like the ends of the stop 24 and the other end of the stop 70, the end designated 72, is fixed by a plastic pin 74 to a U-shaped bracket 76. The bracket is secured to one of the pivoted structures so that it does not pivot relative to that structure. It has fixed connection to the cover 78 of a combing 80 whereas the stop 24 is pivoted at end 82 to the cover 16 by pin 34. The other end of the stop 70 is pinned by a pivot pin 84, which extends from a bracket 86, to the side wall 88 of the combing 80.

The stops 24 and 70 both comprise elongate members formed with a number of through openings along their length. The openings are formed parallel to one another and are generally rectangular in cross-section although it will be apparent that other shapes may be employed. Thus formed, these stops may be considered to comprise parallel side bars interconnected by a series of spaced crossmembers. The side bar at one side is severed entirely through at each of the spaced openings. In effect, the stop members 24 and 70 are severed in spaced planes along their length, the planes extending generally transversely to its length across more than half of the transverse dimension but less than all of the transverse dimension. The result is a member which will withstand substantial force in compression along both of its side bar portions, which can oppose tension in one of its side bars and cannot oppose tension in the other of its side bars. Thus formed, the stop can be bent readily in a direction such that the stop is bowed or collapsed with its severed side bar at the outer side with the larger radius but the member cannot be bowed significantly in the opposite direction, that is with its solid side bar bowed outwardly because the severed side is then in compression and the unsevered side in tension and the two side bars are arranged to resist such forces.

In FIG. 1 the stop member 24 is shown to be bowed slightly toward its unsevered side bar. It is enabled to assume this position because the opposite side bar instead of merely being severed is slotted to remove a thin sliver of material whereby the combined length of the side bar sections of the severed side is slightly less than the length of the side bar at the unsevered side. The amount of bowing is small and the member serves as a column. Nonetheless, a toggle action is involved and as the stop is forced to its collapsed condition toward the severed side rail the separation between the ends of the stop is increased slightly to permit the stop to be bowed over center. Only the resilience of the unsevered side bar must be overcome in collapsing the stop. This is apparent in FIG. 4. The slots at the slotted side bar simply open up to permit the stop to be bent on a small radius. The stop is molded in its elongate shape of a resilient material, preferably plastic, whereby it will be formed such that its renitence will bias it toward the shape and position illustrated in FIG. 1 rather than to the shape and position illustrated in FIG. 4.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am full aware that many modifications thereof are possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A support column for holding a pair of members separated from one another at a selected distance but collapsible in response to lateral force comprising:

a pair of end elements and means for fixing them to the members to be held separated;

a plurality of intermediate elements arranged in series between said end elements, said intermediate elements being movable between a position in series alignment with one another and with said end members to a position out of alignment with one another and said end members in response to forces lateral to the direction of alignment; and

biasing means tending to urge said intermediate elements into a position of alignment with one another and said end elements.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, in which said intermediate elements are integrally formed.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, in which said intermediate elements comprise the coils of a helix of resilient material the turns of which are in pretension.

4. A support column for holding a pair of members separated from one another at a selected distance but collapsible in response to lateral force comprising:

a pair of end elements and means for fixing them to the members to be held separated;

a plurality of intermediate elements arranged in series between said end elements, said intermediate elements being movable between a position in series alignment with one another and with said end members to a position out of alignment with one another and said end members in response to forces lateral to the direction of alignment;

in which said intermediate elements comprise an elongate resilient member severed in spaced planes along its length which extend in a direction generally trans verse to its length across more than half and less than all of its transverse dimension.

5. In combination:

a pair of structures mounted for relative pivotal movement about a common pivot axis;

means for selectively limiting the degree of relative pivotal movement of said structure in one direction comprising an elongate member secured at one of its ends to one of said structures and at the other of its ends to the other of said structures, said elongate member being formed of a material, and having a shape, to withstand compression in the direction of its length and to bend along its length, at least in one plane, upon application thereto of force in a direction lying in the plane and transversely to the length of said member; and

in Which said elongate member is internally biased to its elongate form.

6. The invention defined in claim 5, in which said elongate member comprises a coiled spring the coils of which are in pretension.

7. The invention defined in claim 5, in which said elongate member is pivotally mounted at said one of its ends to said one of said structures on an axis perpendicular to said plane.

8. In combination:

a pair of structures mounted for relative pivotal movement about a common pivot axis;

means for selectively limiting the degree of relative pivotal movement of said structures in one direction comprising an elongate member secured at one of its ends to one of said structures and at the other of its ends to the other of said structures, said elongate member being formed of a material, and having a shape, to withstand compression in the direction of its length and to bend along its length, at least in one plane, upon application thereto of force in a direction lying in the plane and transversely to the length of said member; and

in which said elongate member is severed in spaced planes along its. length which extends generally transversely to its length across more than half and less than all of its transverse dimension.

9. In combination:

a pair of structures mounted for relative pivotal movement about a common pivot axis;

means for selectively limiting the degree of relative pivotal movement of said structures in one direction comprising an elongate member secured at one of its ends to one of said structures and at the other of its ends to the other of said structures, said elongate member being formed of a material, and having a shape, to withstand compression in the direction of its length and to bend along its length, at least in one plane, upon application thereto of force in a direction lying in the plane and transversely to the length of said member; and

in which said elongate member is formed with a plurality of slots spaced in the direction of its length, extending more than half and less than all across the transverse dimension of the member and opening at one elongate side of said member and closed at an opposite elongate side such that the length of said one elongate side is less than the length of said other elongate side of said member when under compression whereby said member assumes an arcuate shape, when compressed in the direction of its length, bowed away from the elongate side to which its slots are opened.

10. The invention defined in claim 9, in which said member is formed of a resilient material biased to assume said arcuate position in the absence of compression.

11. In combination:

a pair of structures mounted for relative pivotal movement about a common pivot axis;

means for selectively limiting the degree of relative pivotal movement of said structures in one direction comprising an elongate member secured at one of its ends to one of said structures and at the other of its ends to the other of said structures, said elongate member being formed of a material, and having a shape, to withstand compression in the direction of its length and to bend along its length, at least in one plane, upon application thereto of force in a direction lying in the plane and transversely to the length of said member; and

in which said elongate member is formed with a plurality of through openings each formed in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the others and spaced apart over the mid-region of the length of said member, one side wall of the member being formed with slots each associated with one of said openings and extending from a common side of the elongate member to its respectively associated opening, said elongate member being mounted at each of its ends to its respectively associated one of said pair of structures on an axis perpendicular to said plane and parallel to the direction of said openlugs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,617,144 11/1952 Stearns et al l6l39X 2,903,149 9/1959 Turner 16138X FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1906 Germany 16-138 7/1955 Italy -2l760A 

